"Could your driveway be making you sick? Mounting research suggests it could. It's prompting more cities, states and businesses to ban a common pavement sealant linked to higher cancer risks and contaminated soil."

"These sealants, used mostly in the eastern half of the USA to beautify pavement and extend its life, contain up to 35% coal tar pitch, which the National Toxicology Program considers a human carcinogen.

Last month, Minnesota became the second state -- after Washington -- to ban pavement sealants that contain coal tar, and the New York Assembly passed a similar bill. In April, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, reintroduced such legislation in the U.S. Congress.

Last week in Chicago, the city's Committee on Finance held a meeting to discuss a newly proposed ban on the sale or use of these sealants."

Wendy Koch reports for USA TODAY June 16, 2013. [2]